Life in Karachi has a fair amount of diversity. Mainstream of the citizens knows the art of adding variegation to their monotonous, somewhat non-rhythmic routine.
Whether it is an evening at the sea view, eating out at boat basin or taking out the family to the Bin Qasim Park packed with home cooked meals or paying a considerably increasing amount to enter the Quaid' Mausoleum to beat the exhaustion of six hard working days, taking timeout is not such a thorny affair for them.
Adventuring through daily gridlock on motorcycles is also a passion among youngsters. Some even go much beyond to rejuvenate their lost energy and opt for reflexology being offered by untrained unqualified masseurs, who usually sit on traffic circles, green roundabouts or in front of roadside eateries with bottles of used hazardous oil.
However, many people fancy fishing or feeding the marine being in the nature's aquarium below the historic Native Jetty that has its own magnetism to attract Karachiites even during heavy traffic course.
While going from MA Jinnah Road or II Chundigarh Road over the Jinnah bridge to Maulvi Tamizuddin Road, the 'human banisters' seen on the Native Jetty bridge is an amazing scene that outclasses the old fashioned term of 'human chain'. Watching the row of people standing at the side of the bridge partly bent looking down on the water from over the railing bar is a classic view. Driving through the route in the dark hours, the mesmerising panorama turns into a masterpiece of confusion art. The whole day animation here emerges like a high-powered slide show with a rapid transition of scenes, continuously looping live on the backdrop of Mother Nature' salty enclosure.
However, the characters featuring in the scene are totally oblivious of the risk of posing in this artwork. It could be a simple fun for many people, who are not even aware of the danger this entertainment could bring to them.
Seemingly, living in an uncertainty of ever increasing violence, extremism and uncertainity, the valiant Karachiites are ready to brave the deadly vehicular onslaught or suffocation deep in the briny cool. No matter what brings them to the bridge, people's interest in this activity is increasing more and more as each day passes, with a parallel amount of risk to their lives.
About 300-400 yards long Native Jelly Bridge, connecting the road from Jinnah Bridge to Kemari is one of the oldest infrastructures and a landmark of this metropolis. It is a wide bridge with a demanding traffic stream circulating through both of its tracks.
Owing to oil installations in Kemari, heavy vehicular movement has further added a vital status to this link. This bridge not only spans the road from Karachi to Kcmari, but also absorbs more than a million people commuting everyday via this route. However, the bridge has also turned into a platform that stages incidents of death everyday due to its stumpy fencing. The lagoon, under this bridge, is a dangerous fishing spot for many people, especially the amateurs, who are engaged in fishing, have adopted the practice as a pastime. Similarly, small-scale vendors sell the catch for their living.
On the verge of fishing spree, these people don't really sense that just a careless move can take their valuable lives. Even the God fearing 'good hearts', who occupy the structure across the fence to drop fish meal are also unmindful of the possibilities that could prove fatal for them After careful observation of sequenced happenings, one must appreciate the Native Jetty for its audacity to expose the tragic side of our society, wherein the daredevil children of poverty-stricken families are labouring to fight their destiny and are forced to sell their innocence in the shape of fishmeal.
Everyday, at least one person dies by both an accidental fall and a consequent drowning into the seawater, or meeting with a road accident. The place has become a death zone, as one can easily expect an untoward accident from either a road accident or a sudden fall into the saltwater.
Moreover, frequent suicide incidences also add to the number of deaths enacted on this bridge, as these frustrated people find it convenient to end their lives by jumping into the lagoon. Whatever the reason may be the situation is quite alarming and needs an urgent attention.
The city of Karachi is experiencing some transitional infrastructure developments. A lot is being said and strategies are being devised to salvage Karachiities from the once disorganised town planning. There should be more efforts to give touch ups to the road structures that invite people to death traps like the one being observed over the historic Native Jetty Bridge.
Relevant quarters should come forward with a concrete plan. As a preliminary precautionary measure to avert accidents, people should be barred from fishing on the spot. The local government should build high fence on both sides of the bridge besides installing a security post to prevent people from violating the rules with immediate effect.
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